Doctor Who (TV Series) The Web of Fear: Episode 5 (1968) User Reviews

The Great intelligence reveals its plan.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 5 June 2017]

The game is up for the Doctor and remaining survivors, a model Yeti on the Colonel has brought the Yeti and professor Travers. Through Travers the Intelligence sets out its plan, to drain the Doctor's mind of knowledge. The Doctor continues work on his control box device, and gains control over a Yeti. The Doctor agrees to give himself up to save the others, Travers and Victoria are held captive to ensure the Doctor's good will. Staff Sergeant Arnold returns looking rather battered, but alive.

We learn more about the Great intelligence, we learn it's infinitely powerful, but they don't give too much away, maintaining the mystery. The voice and lack of being create one hugely creepy monster.

Jack Watling is so good as Travers, no wonder they brought him back, it must have been so strange for him to have been working so closely with daughter Deborah, they had some great scenes together.

That wonderful line from Evans 'I may be stupid but I ain't daft,' he's been a great character. The cliffhanger is a very good one, a great model shot of the fungus breaking through.

The penultimate episode in this six part story is a quality one. 9/10

The Joy of Fear. One of the very best, a terrific classic

[A_Kind_Of_CineMagic · 10/10 · 2 September 2014]

Review of all 6 parts:

This has been acclaimed as an all time classic for many years and deservedly so. It is terrific in every department.

The story involves the Great Intelligence, the villain introduced earlier in season 5 and which would return some 45 years later, shortly before and during the shows 50th anniversary season. The threat posed by this villain and the actions of his minions the Yeti, provide cracking entertainment and thrills.

The Great Intelligence causes the TARDIS to go to Earth where the evil power is carrying out an attack on London including robot Yeti marauding through the London underground.

There is plenty of action, there is mystery as to who is under the influence of the Intelligence and consistently great dialogue supporting a tremendously high standard of story (written brilliantly by Mervyn Haisman & Henry Lincoln) throughout the 6 episodes. The number of great characters is incredible with Nicholas Courtney as Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart (later to be Brigadier, regular 'companion' to The Doctor) making his notable debut, the return of Professor Travers (Jack Watling) and the addition of Anne Travers (Tina Packer), the journalist Chorley (Jon Rollason) and some excellent soldiers especially Sgt. Arnold (Jack Woolgar). Great villains, brilliant acting from the whole cast (including regulars Pat Troughton, Frazer Hines and Deborah Watling), great direction from Douglas Camfield, quality production values and set design with a fine script and effects make this pretty flawless.

This is a true all time classic with an atmosphere and a magic which make it one of the best Who stories ever and therefore as good as TV gets! All 6 episodes 10/10.